Veteran Simpson proud of Blues for AFL win

Carlton are ecstatic about their first win of the AFL season after beating the Western Bulldogs.Image: AAP

Carlton veteran Kade Simpson feels like a "proud big brother" as his baby Blues teammates take flight in the AFL.

And he sees more wins in the side's future after breaking their 2019 duck with a 15.11 (101) to 7.15 (57) win over the Western Bulldogs on Sunday.

At Marvel Stadium, Brendon Bolton's side finally made good on their promise they've shown in four tight losses this season.

Simpson said he felt a mixture of relief and excitement.

"We've got some reward for the effort we've been putting in," he said.

"The way the group dealt with it after a near miss against Gold Coast (was great). We were obviously flat but we went back to work, looked at the vision, got to work on what we had to work on. That showed today."

In an effort to move the latest loss, Bolton made his side watch the last minutes of the two-point defeat, stopping every point of the way where different decisions could be made.

Simpson said the exercise was galvanising, adding onto little improvements made each week.

"We've been building," Simpson said.

"We've improved on a part of our game and developed our game with every loss we've had.

"We're such a young group. We're still learning ... what brand we want to play.

"There's nothing like game day and doing it under the heat and the pressure."

Simpson, 34, was three years older than any of his teammates on Sunday - and 16 years the senior of his youngest, Sam Walsh.

He name-checked the effort of Sam Petrevski-Seton and typical of the growth occurring at the club.

"I love seeing the young guys develop," he said.

"When they can do it on the big stage, it's almost (like I'm) a proud big brother when some of the guys put on the performances they have.

"We'll enjoy (the win).

"This is why you play football.

"It's only one win. We're not getting carried away.

"(But) If you're not going to sit back and enjoy the wins, why do you play footy?"